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Index of Global Delirium

9.4

The Index reflects the state of delirium
in a particular country using a 1 to 10 count, with 10 denoting the highest
level of delirium. Levels of delirium change on the basis of current
development in said country, such as instability, terrorism, elections,
sports events and the like, as well as
relevant global developments such financial meltdowns, certain leaks, and
stock market indices. Countries shown above are among those where fluctuation
in the national and local indices have a greater global impact than is the
case with other countries. Note: levels of violence and delirium do
not always coincide. Indeed, a country can have a high delirium level even
though it is relatively stable.

The IDG may be holding steady 9.4, but one
should not confuse steadiness with stability.

Featured Quotes

“A big share of the Syrian population is willing
to go to the bitter end. We stopped counting the dead but they are still dying.
The regime is executing people in jails. If the war ends, I think the death
toll will be close to 1 million. This is a scandal. We’ve allowed the UN and
humanitarians to be used by the regime and the Russians, for the sake of
sovereignty, as if humanitarian aid is an end to itself. We’ve been a party to
all this. We are toothless dogs.” –Unnamed western
official interviewed by Thanassis Cambanis, Fellow – The Century Foundation

“With stark detail, UNHCR said that on
average, 24 people had been displaced every minute of every day last year, or
34,000 people a day, up from six every minute in 2005.” --Aljazeerah

“It would be reasonable to conclude that
Obama has reluctantly accepted mass murder in Syria as a cost of doing nuclear
business with Iran. No doubt he hates it. No doubt he wants it to stop. But to
push back against Assad — to take limited military steps to make his attempts at
mass murder slightly more difficult — risks angering Tehran and perhaps causing
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to abandon the nuclear agreement.” --Ambassador
Frederic C. Hoff

Change – Slow but Unstoppable:The
Muslim World and the Challenge of Modernity. My latest contribution to the
Lawfare Bog: “The issue of compatibility of Islam and modern liberal democratic
values keeps on creeping into the public debate following each terrorist attack
and each tragic development in the Middle East, and there have been plenty of
them over the last few years to ensure that the debate never falls off radar.
Indeed, ever since the breakout of what has popularly been named the Arab
Spring and the assortment of dramatic developments affiliated with it—the
implosion of Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the rise of ISIS as a global terrorist
threat, and the emergence of the global refugee crisis—popular media, think
tanks and an ever growing circuit, if not circus, of pundits and experts have kept
the debate going, often at the expense of its quality. Still, the question of
the seeming incompatibility of Islam and modernity, the conclusion that many
people seem to reach in this conversation, warrants attention.” (Read
More)

The Genocide within Genocide:UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: ISIS is committing genocide against
the Yazidis. The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) is committing
genocide against Yazidis, according to a report, “They Came to Destroy: ISIS
Crimes Against the Yazidis”, issued today by the independent international
Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. The report by the Commission
of Inquiry also determined that ISIS’s abuse of Yazidis amounts to crimes against
humanity and war crimes. “Genocide has occurred and is ongoing”, emphasised
Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission. “ISIS has subjected every Yazidi
woman, child or man that it has captured to the most horrific of atrocities.” Meanwhile,
on Capitol Hill Yazidi Woman
Pleads With US to Hold IS Accountable.

In the Obama’s administration’s calculus
meant at helping it avoid doing “stupid things,” something must have gone
terribly and horribly wrong. How else can we explain dealing with a situation
where genocidal ventures and civil wars are nested like a Russian Matryoshka
doll? Yes, the U.S. did something about Sinjar, then, the cameras went away as
the genocide resumed its slow-motion pace. Slow motion genocides are tolerable.
The precedent in this regard has already been set in Syria.

But let’s not count on the administration
owning up to its mistakes, no matter how much internal and external pressure it
comes under. One can only own up to the fuckups which he is willing to admit.
On Syria, as we all well know by now, President Obama is “proud” of his performance.
Proud. Proud that he didn’t do anything to prevent or stop this Matryoshkaesque
grind of human lives and sense of decency, because, and we are seriously
meant to believe that, that would have been a stupid thing.

Syrians line-up waiting to receive meals distributed by the "Syria charity" NGO to impoverished families during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on June 11, 2016 in a rebel-held neighborhood of the northern city Aleppo. (AFP/Thaer Mohammed)

The Dying of the Light:R.I.P., Jo Cox.
May Britain Remember Your Wisdom. “Jo was a leader who fought for genocide victims in
Darfur, for survivors of human trafficking, for women’s health, for Syrian
refugees, and, yes, for remaining in the European Union. She was also a proud
mom of two small children: When she was pregnant, she used to sign her emails
“Jo (and very large bump).”

The Daily Delirynth

A Blatant Lie of Omission:Inside Obama’s
Syria Choices (A Guide for Dissenting Diplomats). “It is worth
asking whether the costs of incrementalism have been worth it, and whether by
acting in these relatively modest ways—starting the Syrian training a few
months earlier, maintaining some presence in Iraq after 2011, initiating
airstrikes sooner and, once the bombing began, being a little more creative
with targets—the U.S. could have avoided or better mitigated the massive Syrian
refugee crisis or wield more influence over Russia not to escalate as it did in
2015. None of these steps would have been the kind of game-changer many critics
suggest, but even a modest improvement would be good enough. And in retrospect,
I think they were achievable without undermining the president’s larger goals.”

Even while endorsing the President’s
overall approach to the Middle East, Derek Chollet cannot avoid but being
mildly critical of his Syria policy. But, the blatant lie of omission to which
even Chollet is committed is the failure to address the Administration’s
inaction during the early months of 2011 when the situation in Syria could not
in any way be classified as a civil war, not even a nascent one, and was by
Obama’s own admission, marked mostly by nonviolent protests in the face of
bloody crackdown. The failure to act when the moral case for action was clear
still looks for an explanation. During this period, the President praised the
protesters, yet did nothing to help them, and called on Assad to step down, yet
did nothing to stop him. Why? We still don’t know.

But the question will not disappear just
because it remains ignored. In fact, this is the question on the mind of
every Styria who supported the Revolution and looked to America for help,
especially considering that the logic used by President Obama to justify intervention
in Libya was all too applicable in Syria. Considering the nature of the Assad
regime, Syria was bound to have a conflict, the nature and scale of it,
however, were variables that the U.S. had it in its power to control. This
required a forceful message to be sent. At a time when the U.S. was buy
demonstration its determination prevent mass slaughter in Libya, the mere
threat of force might have sufficed to convince Assad to reconsider its
methods, including the deployment to tanks, artillery, naval power (in
Lattakia’s Al-Ramel Al-Janoubi) and air force in targeting civilian population.

But the idea that the threat of force
would not have worked, or that a massive military commitment was required in
order to create a no-fly zone is the biggest lie of them all. No such
commitment was ever needed, especially in those early days. If necessary, a few
targeted strikes on certain military-security complexes, military airstrips,
artillery positions or tank convoys using Tomahawk missiles would have sufficed
to restrict Assad’s deployment of military force against protesters, and the
handful of small and poorly armed rebel groups that were established by army
defectors in late 2011. Such steps would have restricted the situation to a
low-intensity conflict and would have created chances for political dialogue
much earlier.

Moreover, they would not have imperiled
talks with Iran, as they would not have posed an existential threat to the
regime. The regime would have been declawed but not made unable to defend
itself. Diplomacy would have had a much better chance at charting a much less
costly transition, in both material and humanitarian terms. Yes, opposition
groups would have still pushed for regime change, that’s their job and is
unsurprising demand considering the nature of the Assad regime, but Obama’s
line on not deciding the outcomes of other peoples’ civil wars would have made
some sense then (albeit one would have to consider the very precedent Obama had
set in Libya as an aberration, or a personal learning experience).

Be that as it may, we will never know what
would have happened. But the question still need to be answered, and Obama
should be pushed to provide an answer even after he leaves office. He may never
admit it, but he fucked up on Syria, and he need to be reminded of that, and
pushed to explain his reasoning on very step that led to this tragedy.

The Other Rebellion:Obama Admin
Battling Internal War Over Giving Iran Access to U.S. Dollars. “Tensions have been brewing between the State and
Treasury Departments over contradictory statements about U.S. efforts to boost
Iran’s economy and give it unprecedented access to U.S. dollars, according to
conversations with sources who described a deepening internal divide over the
issue. While top administration officials had promised Congress that such
access would never be granted under last summer’s nuclear agreement, some in the
administration have changed their tune.” It seems that the Obama
administration’s definition of the “blob” was not restricted to Congress and
the Washingtonian punditry; in fact, it included diplomats and the bureaucracy
working in various state institutions, and even many of its own political
appointees. The decision-makers in the administration consisted of one man:
Obama, who accepted advice only from some of the few people who shared the West
Wing with him. The Clique’s communication strategy with the world beyond was
intentionally vague and relied, occasionally at least, on circulating rumors
and false reports in order to get its way. Pushbacks were bound to happen.

The
Contraction before the Storm:Illiberalism:
The Worldwide Crisis “As an ideology and as a governing philosophy, liberalism is
fast losing ground. “Liberalism” here is understood not as the American shorthand
for those who vote Democratic in the United States, but as the philosophy of
individual rights and (relatively) free markets that in theory is shared by the
U.S. Republican Party and Scandinavian social democrats alike. As it fades,
populism and identitarian politics of all kinds are gaining adherents nearly
everywhere. Today’s illiberals are less likely to be organized around
systematic philosophies like Fascism and Communism than was the case in the
years between the two world wars—the last time liberalism appeared this
vulnerable. In our time, illiberal forces are disparate, instinctual, inchoate,
more likely to be local in focus, and internally divided. Often various
illiberalisms are locked in combat against one another.” The forces of
illiberalism are merely filling the void left by liberal democracies still
struggling to accept the ethical duties that come with power.

Pax Cynica:A Pax Sinica in
the Middle East. “China’s economic vision for the Eurasian continent is a long-range affair
and still rather abstract. More pressing are Chinese concerns about the spread
of Islamist terrorism into Asia. As Christina Lin reported in Asia Times June
15, the Syrian civil war has become a magnet for South and Southeast Asian
Muslims, many of them already radicalized by Saudi-financed religious schools
in their region. China already has its hands full with Uyghur terrorists in its
Muslim-majority Western province of Xinjiang. A “southern route” through
Thailand and Myanmar channels Uyghur terrorists in Southeast Asia. If the
Uyghurs were to link up with home-grown jihadists in Thailand, Indonesia and
Malaysia, Chinese security officials fear, the security problem might metastasize.”
An illiberal pax is cynical pax.

"Insert investments here" (cartoon by Sergey Elkin)

Pax Putin:Putin's
War On Europe. “Seeking to undermine European unity is business as usual for the
Kremlin. It predated the Ukraine crisis and Moscow's current standoff with the
West -- and it is not going to stop no matter what Brussels does now…Vladimir Putin regime's
problem isn't with what Europe is doing -- but with what Europe is.” You can have a
détente between democracies and autocracies, but you can never have peace.

Engage, Invest and Normalize:Beyond Amin
Maalouf and the BDS “Freedom of Expression is Freedom of Communication.” After
70+ years of boycott and resistance, perhaps, it’s time we gave real engagement
a chance, especially because, even in the best of circumstances, a solution to
the Palestinian Cause calls for a hybrid approach, for none of the current
alternatives (one-state, two-state, three-state) is viable by itself. And the
prospects of another Nakba cannot be staved off through boycott. I believe,
it’s about time we tried an Engage, Invest and Normalize approach. The BDS
movement doesn’t just produce pyrrhic victories but illusory ones that sidetrack
us from the real struggle – the struggle to improve the quality of Palestinian lives.
BDS is not designed for that, it is simply designed to provide catharsis for some
through an ongoing attempt at punishing Israel. Seeking peace and seeking punishment
are not the same.

The New Front:Iranian General,
Denouncing Move by Bahrain, Threatens ‘Bloody Intifada’In a statement,
the commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the high-profile leader of the elite Quds
Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, denounced the “mistreatment”
of the cleric and threatened Bahrain with “a bloody intifada.” Bahrain’s
leaders have accused the Quds Force of sending weapons to local insurgents,
which Iran denies. But General Soleimani’s explosive remarks suggested that
Tehran was losing patience. Caught in-between the Iranian rock and hard
place that is continued repression of the majority population by the Sunni
Sultan and his Saudi allies, are the prodemocracy activists who are quite wary
of Iran’s leaders but cannot stand silent in the face of oppression.

Assad’s government has killed almost seven hundred medical personnel. ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN STAUFFER

Meanwhile there is a silent killer out
there called depression that is preying on Syrian refugees everywhere, driving
many to suicides. The most recent is a Syrian dancer who, along with
his troupe, won the Arabs Got Talen award in 2014. On June 22, 2016, Rabih (also
half-Palestinian) flung himself from the balcony of his Beirut apartment. He
died on impact. Few days earlier, Rabih wrote on his Facebook page about his
growing frustration with the war in Syria, the regime’s monstrous behavior, Israel,
the Islamic State, and the plight of being a refugee. Like many young Syrians
of his generation, Rabih had a history of drug addiction and alcoholism that
date back to pre-revolution time.

A screen-grab from a news segment aired by RT, which showed two canister-like attachments under the wing of a Russian jet that have been identified by independent activists as cluster munitions.

A very generous interpretation:Iran shifts on
Syria. "What [Zarif] seemed to be signaling was that he has more authority
on the Syria file than he has had until now," a US nongovernmental source
who met with Zarif on the sidelines of the Oslo Forum, speaking not for
attribution, told Al-Monitor. "He seemed to suggest that Iran is prepared
to show more flexibility on how fast that question [of Assad] is dealt with and
how." I am not really sure how having “more authority” signals any
kind of a shift. This is more like a hint as to a possible shift, provided
certain unspecified conditions are met.

But let’s be clear here, if there is any
shift at this stage, it’s probably the result of Iran and Russia’s getting
tired of logging the pig that is Assad on their shoulders and putting up with
him unceremoniously shitting all over them – because, hey, that’s what pigs do,
isn’t it? – and they are beginning to realize that the next administration,
especially if led by Hillary, which seems to be the most likely case at this
stage, will be closer in its thinking to the dissenters at the State
Department. For as Frederic C. Hoff argues:

"Even if Obama is content to
bequeath to his successor a humanitarian abomination and geopolitical
catastrophe, these officials have placed before the world the proposition that
the United States can and ultimately will do its duty."

The working hypothesis that the
prohibitive costs for Russia and Iran of open-ended support for the Assad
regime would eventually persuade them to dump him has, well, not worked...at least so far. Yet
as the stark numbers and demography become clearer, alongside who is actually
doing the fighting and dying for the Assads, political solutions may start to
look more compelling for their patrons.

A very convenient interpretation:The Obama Legal
Team and the Lawfulness of Attacking Assad. This may represent a useful guide to the
legalistic thinking of some in the administration. But, let’s bear in mind
that, whenever he was asked to justify his thinking about Syria, President
Obama never said: I believe my hands are tied from an aspirational legal
perspective. No. He never said that, because basing his decision on a legal
argument could tie his hands in the future, which means that law was never the
thing that was on his mind and prevented him from acting. His was not a pro-law
decision, neither in the factual nor aspirational sense. It’s clear that people
in the Obama Camp, following the lead of the President himself, like to wrap
themselves in the righteousness stemming from ethical and legal arguments, but
their motives have always been as mundane as any. The aspirational
element involved in the nuclear talks with Iran counted more than the reality
of Syrian suffering.

Death of a Heretic:Amjad Sabri,
famed Sufi singer, gunned down in Pakistan. Amjad Sabri belonged to the renowned Sabri family,
members of the Chishti Sufi order and the most famous Qawwali group in the
country. They had performed internationally and were known for their renditions
of mystical Islamic poetry. Qawwali is a form of passionate, devotional Sufi
music, specifically from South Asia. A faction of the Taliban claimed
responsibility for the attack, citing the type of music Sabri performs as
"blasphemous." As the war on heresy keeps claiming the most
talented there lies the fall of nations.

Mohamed Khairullah drives through his town, which is not much larger than one square kilometer. (Photo: R. Taylor / VOA)

Proud Mayor: An American
Mayor Who Happens to Be Muslim. Muhammad, the Mayor of Prospect Park New
jersey, also happened to be pro-Revolution, anti-Assad and has visited Syria
many times since the Revolution to support the refugee and the various ongoing
medical efforts in the country.

Prostrating Ambassador: Believe it or
not but according to a
pro-Assad Facebook page, the picture above shows the Ambassador to India
during his recent visit to the tomb of the late Hafiz Al-Assad in his hometown
of Qardahah. He is the one assuming the
I-am-here-to-humiliate-my-country-and-people position prostrating.

Deserted: A bar in central Damascus, one of many that has seen a reduction in male customers because of the fighting and migration

Known to those
of his followers seeking his canonization and entry into the Valtheon of
Deliriology, as Agnus Mundi, and to his detractors as Ranae Dei and even
Capra Satanae, Delirian Mundi’s writings, mixing satire and philosophical
reflections, continue to be polarizing, inspiring both adulation and
ridicule. Bearing this in mind, we, the editors at DDGD, continue to publish
these previously unknown series of “exotic observations and propositions,” as
Delirian himself referred to them, as part of our continuing commitment to
instigate debate over sensitive issues.

* We do better not to confuse steadiness for
stability, calm for peace, or rationality for wisdom.

* No one wants to do stupid things, but
when has there ever been a consensus as to what constitutes stupid?

Islamic State's Ideology: The Senate
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing to
discuss ISIS ideology and its relation to and motivation for so-called “lone
wolf” actors like the shooter in the gay night club attack in Orlando,
Florida. Witnesses, including refugees from ISIS affected areas, talked about
what drives the successes and failures of the group, and made recommendations
for how best to counter ISIS with efforts beyond the U.S.-led military
operations in the Middle East and Africa.

Salam Neighbor: Two American
filmmakers travel to the edge of war, to live with 85,000 Syrian refugees in
Jordan's Za’atari camp. For the first time, experience an intimate look at
the heartbreak and hope on the frontlines of the world’s most dire refugee
crisis.

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IGD: We finally hit a perfect 10. We now offically live in the Age of Total Delirirum

The IGD or the Index of Global Delirium reflects the state of delirium in the world at a particular moment in time using a 1 to 10 measure, with 10 denoting the highest level of delirium. Levels of delirium change on the basis of various current developments such as instability, wars, terrorist activities, elections, sports events, financial meltdowns, leaks of sensitive information, etc. Note:levels of violence and delirium do not always coincide. IGD levels may rise even when violence levels seem to take a downturn.

Dystopia Today: The Home Front

Dystopia Today: The Global Stage

I Am Syria

Educators will find theI Am Syria websiteto be quite useful when it comes to finding audio-visual materials explaining the Syrian Crisis in general and the plight of the Syrian Refugees in particular. The site is maintained by a small team of volunteer educators and receives tens of thousands of visits per months.I am honored to be involved in this effort.

Recent Entries into The Holy Deliricon

Recent Entries into The Holy Delirindex

Recent Observations by Delirian Mundi

Recent Scenes from Theatrum Deliria

Recent Episodes from The Cauldron

Syria: A Fire Within

As anti-Assad demonstrations erupt across Syria, Ammar Abdulhamid, an exiled pioneer of the pro-democracy movement must convince US leaders that they have allies on the ground. Or else those allies, and the entire pro-democracy movement, may forever perish.